The Tentacle Awakens

by J. J. Pavlov

  Luna prepares to leave but then seems to remember something. She turns back to Lady Nightwane.

  "Please be careful and close the shop for the time being. They might return to get you after they figure out that the doll was only an automaton." She warns the dark elf.

  "A-automaton?" Tilting her head, Lady Nightwane repeats that word as if she heard it for the first time in her life.

  Oh crap. I thought your alibi was perfect, but you never acted like an automaton in front of your previous owner, Senka?

  "So it is a cursed doll after all!" Luna turns to look at the doll girl with fear and disgust. Well, she's not going to let this one slide.

  "I-I told you, didn't I? It's a c-cursed doll that s-sometimes moves on its own." Lady Nightwane explains when she realizes what we're talking about. Nice save, dark elf.

  No wait, that's not really helping my case!

  "Leave it behind!" Pointing at Senka, Luna shouts in an almost hysterical tone.

  "No, never! I already bought her!" And I had to fight for that money, too!

  "Rolan will hear about this!"

  Are you a kid?!

  Oh wait, you actually kind of are.

  Lady Nightwane looks at us strangely, but I think she's quite happy with the money she got. I don't know how much it was, but maybe I gave away a considerable sum? Not that I have any need for it.

  Wait, I wanted more of those puff pastries! Well, I guess I got something else that's sweet instead. Cuddling Senka, I show that I won't let go of her.

  "I have experience with cursed dolls." Kind of. Not really.

  "That does not make it alright to carry around a cursed doll!" Luna rebuts.

  This back and forth continues a little more, but eventually, the half-elf reluctantly gives in, seeing how obstinate I remain about this matter. We quickly depart to return to the Dancing Dragon after this, and all along the way, she keeps stealing glances at the doll in my arms. She must be worrying about another jump scare.

  I feel that with this new companion it's going to be a lot more fun from now on.

  Chapter 10 - The Adventurer Guild

  When we return to the Dancing Dragon, we find that the bard is already there. He's flirting with a female patron who appears to be quite taken by his manners. Even though I think that his behavior is obnoxious, it actually seems to be able to land him women in this world.

  Let's mess with him.

  "You already have me, but you still try to pick up other women?" I approach him with a pout and hug Senka tightly, willing myself to tear up to underpin the feeling of betrayal. It actually works, and I feel my vision blur slightly.

  "Huh, you already have someone?" The woman looks at me, and then at the doll, I'm carrying, a hint of disgust appearing on her face. The bard is taken aback by my sudden appearance and my words but has enough time to share the woman's sentiment in regards to Senka.

  Why does everyone dislike that design so much? Can't you see how creepy-cute she is? I guess that concept doesn't exist in this world...

  "I was not aware of such a relationship between us, Lady Marcott." The bard is actually speaking the truth, but that's only giving me the opportunity to add oil to the fire.

  "Oh no! So that's how you treat me after all the hot nights we shared!" Watching the bard's confusion and the woman's growing contempt for him is so fun. Time for the finisher. "Now that I'm with child, you want to wash your hands of me?"

  I see the figurative switch being flipped in her eyes.

  "You are scum!" Her words are accompanied by a resounding slap to his face. She then picks up her bag and stomps off, leaving behind a completely bewildered bard.

  "Miss Marcott, what..." Luna stares at me strangely, but there's doubt flickering in her eyes when she glances at the bard. Even though they've been traveling for a while now, she has so little faith in him that it's almost pitiful.

  "I was playing a prank on you." It seems my acting was so on point that they didn't suspect me at all.

  "Please, Lady Marcott, do not scare me so." Strangely enough, the bard looks relieved. What, did you think something happened between us, and you just were too drunk to remember? In your dreams! "... and what an... interesting doll you have found."

  "Yes, isn't she just cute?" Rubbing my face against Senka's, I feel her stitches against my cheek. It's a strange sensation, but I don't mind.

  "Umm... yes indeed, you could say she holds a... unique charm." Obviously, he's trying his hardest not to say anything rude, like Luna did. I can tell that he feels just as much disgust at the somewhat grotesque sight of Senka as the half-elf does, but at least he's diplomatic about it.

  "Anyway..." Luna sits down while clearing her throat and helps her companion out from having to act like he doesn't actually dislike the doll's design. "Where are Rolan and Gram?"

  "They are not back yet. I found some interesting information and returned early, in case someone was here already." He looks proud of himself. Let us hear what you found out, and see if it can compare to what I uncovered. "It appears the merchant Sveinn Itkonen always delivers his goods directly into the manors and castles of nobles, and the escorts are always kept outside until the transactions have been finished."

  That's far from enough to implicate him, but it does look quite suspicious, even without the information I uncovered. And it makes a lot of sense when you know that he's trading in slaves since he obviously can't do it with adventurers around.

  "It explains how he could hide his illicit dealings for so long. We learned from an encounter with some dangerous thugs that Sveinn is smuggling slaves. They were in the process of taking Lady Nightwane when we surprised them." Luna is leaving out the fact that she was knocked out cold during the most crucial part, and that I got that information from them. But I won't complain; when she's the one saying it, it's more convincing.

  "Really? That is a troubling discovery. But if that is true, I wonder why he needs to hire so many security guards from the guild. Would it not be better to be using said thugs once he is out of the city?" The bard scratches his chin and considers the new information.

  "Maybe the guards employed from the guild act as camouflage?" Luna assumes with a thoughtful expression. That's a pretty good point. Considering how Gram was all friendly with the gate guards, it wouldn't be surprising for them to let the caravan through when their buddies are escorting it, without even performing a check of their cargo.

  "But how does he plan to transport several people and not let the escorts know? It's impossible to keep that many living beings silent for such a long journey." The bard brings up another fair point.

  Since he has been doing his business for a while now, it's evident that he must have a way. But having ten carriages means he has a large number of slaves hidden away, and it's impossible to keep them all quiet. Aside from them remaining completely still during the journey, locked in secret compartments built into the carriages, and going without water and food, there's just no way that nobody ever noticed them.

  Additionally, if he orders the kidnapping of people who are established personalities in various places, such as Lady Nightwane in this city - no matter how badly her business is actually going - it will most likely cause suspicions. Maybe he doesn't intend to return here after this job, or there was some plan to make it appear as if she left on her own.

  "I think it is possible that the slaves are placed inside barrels, and then put under a Stasis spell." Luna rubs her chin and suggests a plausible explanation. What's that spell? It sounds sci-fi.

  As the two keep coming up with theories around this Sveinn's methods, I just kept listening until their discussion draws to a close. The question in the room now is what they should do about it. If it's an organization, not knowing how far it reaches could be dangerous. After all, adventurers aren't in high esteem and are mostly considered drifters. In many places, they're even frowned upon, just like eternal part-time workers are in Japan.

  It's slowly becoming dark outside and the
time to meet back up here draws near. We'll have to see Rolan's verdict on this matter since he's the leader.

  "Oh, you're back already." It's Gram's voice. I turn around and find that Rolan is accompanying him. Think of the devil, huh?

  "Yes, we obtained some really interesting information." The bard slides over on the bench, and Rolan sits down next to him.

  This time, Gram is banished to the extra chair, which he pulls over from another table. It looks laughably small compared to his massive frame and creaks under his weight. Luckily, he left his shield in the room upstairs, or the chair would have given out under his weight.

  - Adventurers are sharing information -

  "I see... we have to do something about it. To think such problems still exist in our kingdom..." Rolan has a grim expression and frowns at the thought that there're still people who trade in demi-human slaves. I knew he was the righteous type from the very beginning, because he 'saved' me from the streets, and he wants to slay the demon lord to make life better for humans. If I had been reincarnated as a human, I could see myself getting drawn in by his charisma.

  "I think it'd be best to let the guild know about this. We can search his carriages before departure to see if there really are slaves on board, then report him to the city watch as we pass through the gate checkpoint." Gram's suggestion seems quite solid. I'd vote for that one if I had a say in this matter. I'm not a proper member of the party, so I don't, though.

  "Yes, we can do that when the time comes, but before then we should try to get evidence. Let's go and find the three that attacked Runa and Miss Marcott. If we capture them, we can get them to confess." Rolan suggests, and I suppress a flinch.

  Please don't try to search for them, they're all right here inside me, in various states of digestion. But even if they weren't and you found them, what would you do if they belonged to a large group with an extensive underground network that includes skilled assassins and mercenaries?

  At least that's how these things usually go in fiction.

  "I don't think we should do that. If they have powerful people backing them, we're at a disadvantage." Yes, listen to Gram, he's got the right concerns. "The buyers are those with large enough estates that these slaves never see the outside again. Those are always nobles, and running afoul of them could be quite dangerous."

  Is it just me or is this whole thing getting bigger and bigger? They're talking about taking steps to break up an underground slave ring that may be operating on a national scale.

  You're only four people! That's an impossible endeavor.

  Oh wait, maybe the adventurer guild also has quite some influence? I mean, adventurers themselves may be frowned upon, but if there's a guild hall in each city, it should be an institution with roots in the government. But if that's the case, how can we be sure that they don't have a finger in the pie as well?

  "What do you think, Miss Chloe?" Rolan is actually asking for my opinion. And interestingly enough, Luna isn't glaring at him for calling me by my first name. Maybe it's because this situation goes beyond such petty little squabbles.

  "As a noble, I believe it's my duty to act in the interest of the people." I'm spouting some typical idealistic nonsense I learned from light novels. Either they dismiss my words for unrealistic idealism or are inspired by it. No real loss for me either way. "We can't leave slavery alone. Individual freedom is the most sacred right one has."

  I do have the opinion that everyone should be free, as long as they don't lose said freedom through foolish actions. Such as attacking someone far more powerful than they are, based on orders from a person whose face they may have never seen. It's what landed a lot of people in those slave pens in Rodens.

  In either case, I don't mind going to war against these slavers, but I'll abandon ship if it takes too long. I have to be somewhere within three years, and at this point, I don't even know how many days make up a year in this world. I'm marking every passing day on a notebook, though.

  "Miss Chloe..." Rolan is looking at me in astonishment and a hint of admiration. Oh, did you fall for me? "If only all nobles thought that way, the kingdom would be a much better place.

  Praise me more!

  "Yes, I believe it's our duty to stop these criminal machinations. As a matter of fact, they attacked Runa and could have taken her, too." I can smell an ulterior motive called revenge, though.

  Ah, the topic is going to head in that direction now, isn't it?

  "But... you say this doll saved you?" He points at Senka with an unmistakably displeased face. So even you dislike this design? Well, it makes sense, her appearance is quite harrowing if you were to think of her as an actual human being.

  As if in response, Senka's neck makes a creaking noise, and she snaps her head around to face Rolan. Her mouth opens and closes rhythmically while mechanical laughter emerges from her chest area. She even got the perfect angle, the same as the one she used on Luna earlier. This way she looks consistent and the facade of her being an automaton is more believable - even though Lady Nightwane said that she's a cursed doll in front of Luna.

  "Woah!" Hah, even he's freaked out by her moving like that! "That's... quite the doll. You really want to bring it along?"

  Yes, anything wrong with that?

  "Yes, anything wrong with that?" Oops, I said it out loud. And in the same tone as my defiant inner voice, too.

  "H-huh? Well... no, it's alright." He's surprised by my attitude but doesn't comment on it, and gives in easily. Hah, what a pushover.

  "Actually, I almost forgot about it... but where did you get the money for the doll from?" Luna finally remembers to ask. I was actually expecting that question much earlier.

  "The kidnappers dropped their purses and some other items when they ran away." It may be unbelievable, but I have a few other items that could be used as evidence if they need it. "I thought it was only fair to use their money to free our savior from that awful store."

  There, I said it, the store is awful. Luna has a sympathetic expression on her face. So even she thinks it's awful. Why does she even know such a shady place? Can't she get magic supplies and potions from a more upstanding store?

  Nobody questions my explanation any further. In fact, Gram gives a hearty laugh when he hears it. Good, Senka was reluctantly accepted by the others, so there's no problem. Luna has also resigned herself to the fact that I'll be carrying the creepy-cute doll with me from now on, and can only shake her head with a sigh.

  "So, our next move is to contact the guild." Rolan is entering his leader mode and hands out the roles to the party. "Gram, talk to your friends in the city watch. Only those you really trust, we don't know whether they are in on it or not. Sigurd, you go and find out more from your sources. Maybe there are rumors about this."

  That sounds like the bard has some questionable connections, too. Who else could have information about illegal slavery, other than the dark side of society? Then again, he did mention minstrels, and those are usually good at picking up rumors.

  "Let's all meet back here at midnight." I have to wonder how anyone can tell time without clocks. Is there something indicating midnight in this city, like a bell? Finally, the leader turns to us."Runa and Miss Chloe come to the guild with me. We'll need you as witnesses."

  With this, the party splits up again. I'm beginning to feel hungry, especially since it smells really nice all around us in the tavern. It's time for dinner, but we don't have the luxury to worry about this right now.

  Rolan, Luna and I cross the square and head towards the guild hall. I haven't been in there, even though I did pass it by four times today, so I'm interested to see what it looks like inside and what kind of people are frequenting it.

  "Phew..." Senka breathes a sigh of relief when we leave the tavern and walk across the city square. "I couldn't speak to you with the bard around. I'm sure he has incredibly sharp ears."

  She's right on the mark; I'm lucky that she's so perceptive. I'm walking a few steps behind the adventurer coup
le so that we can whisper to each other.

  "So, you intend to stick with them for the time being?" The doll girl asks me without moving, since we may still be seen by other people.

  "Yes, they are quite interesting. I have to be back in the demon palace within three years, so I have more than enough time for a small side trip like this." It takes a weight off my shoulders to be able to talk to someone without having to hide everything about myself. For some reason, I fully trust Senka, even though we only met a few hours ago. I'm sure there must be a good reason for it...

  "I can see that. These two in front of us make the perfect targets for messing around with. The bard, too." I hear her chuckle and have to suppress a smile. I see she's a kindred spirit.

  "What about Gram?" While she commented on the others, she left out the big man for some reason.

  "He reminds me of my foster father from a different era. Only that this one has no hair on his head, but a magnificent amount on his face, while my foster father was the other way round. Their height is similar, too." There is a hint of loneliness in her voice even though she doesn't change her tone. "I want to climb on his shoulders..."

  Please don't do that; I feel like he'll get a heart attack from that.

  "What do you think about this whole slavery affair?"

  "Very textbook for such a fantasy setting."

  "I know right? At least this world isn't as clear-cut good demons and evil humans, as is often the case when one is reincarnated on the demons' side in such stories." Those have been getting really popular lately, after all.

  "Just don't trip over that trope later on. Don't let your sympathy for the humans cause you to hesitate, when the times comes for you to choose your side." Senka's voice remains neutral, but I can tell that she's warning me somberly.

  "I won't." This topic should have given me reason to hesitate before, but the time I spent with Maou-mama has taught me valuable things about life and its priorities. "I'm a demon, after all."